TODAY IN HISTORY - February 5th
1940 - One of the great classic songs of the Big Band era was recorded, with Glenn Miller and his band playing Tuxedo Junction at the RCA Victor studios in Manhattan. The flip side of the record (released on the Bluebird label) was Danny Boy.
1944 - Born this day, Al Kooper, legendary studio musician, original member of Blood Sweat & Tears, 1969 US No.12 and UK No.35 single You've Made Me So Very Happy. Also member of the Royal Teens, 1958 US No.3 single Shorts Shorts. Played organ on Bob Dylan’s Like A Rolling Stone.
1948 - Born this day, David Denny, guitar, Steve Miller Band, 1974 US No.1 and 1990 UK No.1 single The Joker.
1957 - Bill Haley arrived from New York on the liner Queen Elizabeth at Southampton, for his UK concert debut and was greeted by 5,000 fans, he was also the first American rock artist to tour the UK.
1961 - The Shirelles were winding up their first week at No.1 on the music charts with Will You Love Me Tomorrow. The song was at the top for two weeks. It was the group’s first No.1 tune and the first No.1 tune from the pen of a New York Brill Building songwriter who worked right down the hall from Neil Sedaka. She became a huge star in her own right with several No.1 singles and albums in the 1970s. Her name: Carole King.
1962 - The Beatles played two shows, one at the Cavern Club at lunchtime and in the evening at the Kingsway Club in Southport. This was the first time Ringo Starr appeared live with the group after drummer Pete Best became ill.
1964 - Born this day, [Michael] Duff McKagan, in Seattle, Washington, bass, Guns N' Roses, 1998 US No.1 and 1989 UK No.6 single Sweet Child O' Mine.
1966 - California Dreamin' by the Mamas and the Papas entered the Billboard charts, it eventually reached No.4.
1966 - Petula Clark had her second No.1 in the US singles chart with 'My Love', making her the first British female to have two US No.1 hits. 'My Love' became a No. 4 in the UK.
1966 - Nancy Sinatra's These Boots Are Made for Walkin' entered the Billboard chart, eventually reaching the No.1 spot.
1967 - The News Of The World reported that Mick Jagger had taken LSD at the Moody Blues' home in the UK. Jagger sued the paper for libel in an on-going feud between the News Of The World and The Stones.
1968 - Born this day, Chris Barron, vocals, The Spin Doctors, 1993 UK No.3 and US No.7 single Two Princes.
1969 - Born this day, Bobby Brown, singer, New Edition, 1983 UK No.1 and US No.46 single Candy Girl, also solo, 1988 UK No.6 and 1989 US No.1 single My Prerogative. Married Whitney Houston 18 July 1992.
1971 - Black Sabbath started recording what would be their third album, 'Master Of Reality' at Island Studios in London, England. Released in July of this year, it is sometimes noted as the first stoner rock album. Guitarist Tony Iommi, decided to down tune his guitar down three semi-tones, Geezer Butler also down tuned his bass guitar to match Iommi. The result was a noticeably 'darker' sound that almost two decades later would prove hugely influential on at least three of the biggest grunge acts, namely Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, and Nirvana.
1972 - T Rex were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Telegram Sam', the group's third UK No.1 which was taken from their album The Slider. The song is also known for bringing the term "main man" into popular culture.
1972 - Paul Simon released his first new song without Art Garfunkel, 'Mother and Child Reunion', which peaked at No.4 in the US. Simon got the idea for the song's title from a chicken-and-egg dish called Mother and Child Reunion that he saw on a Chinese restaurant's menu.
1976 - American saxophonist Rudy Pompilli died of lung cancer aged 52. Although not a smoker himself, it is believed he contracted the disease through second hand smoke. With Bill Haley and his Comets, he had the 1955 UK & US No.1 single with 'Rock Around The Clock', Pompilli released one solo album, Rudy's Rock: The Sax That Changed the World.
1977 - Mary MacGregor started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Torn Between Two Lovers. It made No.4 in the UK.
1983 - Toto went to No.1 on the US singles with Africa, also a hit in the UK reaching No.3.
1983 - Def Leppard's album 'Pyromania', started a 92 week run on the US charts, it never reached No.1 but sold over 6 million copies in the US alone.
2001 - Juliet Peters appeared in a London court accused of making death threat's to Billie Piper. Peter's had made threatening telephone calls to the singer threatening to decapitate her and burn her body. The court listened to tapes of the 13 calls she has made to the singers record company.
2004 - Janet Jackson's right breast became the most searched-for image in net history, Jackson's breast was seen by millions on TV after Justin Timberlake pulled at her bodice during a duet. Search engines reported a big jump in searches for Janet Jackson and Super Bowl, as people turned to the web for images of the event.
2006 - The Rolling Stones played three songs during the half-time show of The Super Bowl in Detroit. After the event, the Stones expressed their displeasure over having Mick Jagger's microphone turned down during the song "Start Me Up". The line "you make a dead man come" was cut short and a barnyard reference to "cocks" in the new song "Rough Justice" also disappeared.
2008 - Amy Winehouse was questioned by police in connection with a video apparently showing her smoking a crack-cocaine pipe. The singer, who was not arrested, was interviewed under caution after the video was posted online by the Sun newspaper.
1940 - One of the great classic songs of the Big Band era was recorded, with Glenn Miller and his band playing Tuxedo Junction at the RCA Victor studios in Manhattan. The flip side of the record (released on the Bluebird label) was Danny Boy.
1944 - Born this day, Al Kooper, legendary studio musician, original member of Blood Sweat & Tears, 1969 US No.12 and UK No.35 single You've Made Me So Very Happy. Also member of the Royal Teens, 1958 US No.3 single Shorts Shorts. Played organ on Bob Dylan’s Like A Rolling Stone.
1948 - Born this day, David Denny, guitar, Steve Miller Band, 1974 US No.1 and 1990 UK No.1 single The Joker.
1957 - Bill Haley arrived from New York on the liner Queen Elizabeth at Southampton, for his UK concert debut and was greeted by 5,000 fans, he was also the first American rock artist to tour the UK.
1961 - The Shirelles were winding up their first week at No.1 on the music charts with Will You Love Me Tomorrow. The song was at the top for two weeks. It was the group’s first No.1 tune and the first No.1 tune from the pen of a New York Brill Building songwriter who worked right down the hall from Neil Sedaka. She became a huge star in her own right with several No.1 singles and albums in the 1970s. Her name: Carole King.
1962 - The Beatles played two shows, one at the Cavern Club at lunchtime and in the evening at the Kingsway Club in Southport. This was the first time Ringo Starr appeared live with the group after drummer Pete Best became ill.
1964 - Born this day, [Michael] Duff McKagan, in Seattle, Washington, bass, Guns N' Roses, 1998 US No.1 and 1989 UK No.6 single Sweet Child O' Mine.
1966 - California Dreamin' by the Mamas and the Papas entered the Billboard charts, it eventually reached No.4.
1966 - Petula Clark had her second No.1 in the US singles chart with 'My Love', making her the first British female to have two US No.1 hits. 'My Love' became a No. 4 in the UK.
1966 - Nancy Sinatra's These Boots Are Made for Walkin' entered the Billboard chart, eventually reaching the No.1 spot.
1967 - The News Of The World reported that Mick Jagger had taken LSD at the Moody Blues' home in the UK. Jagger sued the paper for libel in an on-going feud between the News Of The World and The Stones.
1968 - Born this day, Chris Barron, vocals, The Spin Doctors, 1993 UK No.3 and US No.7 single Two Princes.
1969 - Born this day, Bobby Brown, singer, New Edition, 1983 UK No.1 and US No.46 single Candy Girl, also solo, 1988 UK No.6 and 1989 US No.1 single My Prerogative. Married Whitney Houston 18 July 1992.
1971 - Black Sabbath started recording what would be their third album, 'Master Of Reality' at Island Studios in London, England. Released in July of this year, it is sometimes noted as the first stoner rock album. Guitarist Tony Iommi, decided to down tune his guitar down three semi-tones, Geezer Butler also down tuned his bass guitar to match Iommi. The result was a noticeably 'darker' sound that almost two decades later would prove hugely influential on at least three of the biggest grunge acts, namely Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, and Nirvana.
1972 - T Rex were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Telegram Sam', the group's third UK No.1 which was taken from their album The Slider. The song is also known for bringing the term "main man" into popular culture.
1972 - Paul Simon released his first new song without Art Garfunkel, 'Mother and Child Reunion', which peaked at No.4 in the US. Simon got the idea for the song's title from a chicken-and-egg dish called Mother and Child Reunion that he saw on a Chinese restaurant's menu.
1976 - American saxophonist Rudy Pompilli died of lung cancer aged 52. Although not a smoker himself, it is believed he contracted the disease through second hand smoke. With Bill Haley and his Comets, he had the 1955 UK & US No.1 single with 'Rock Around The Clock', Pompilli released one solo album, Rudy's Rock: The Sax That Changed the World.
1977 - Mary MacGregor started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Torn Between Two Lovers. It made No.4 in the UK.
1983 - Toto went to No.1 on the US singles with Africa, also a hit in the UK reaching No.3.
1983 - Def Leppard's album 'Pyromania', started a 92 week run on the US charts, it never reached No.1 but sold over 6 million copies in the US alone.
2001 - Juliet Peters appeared in a London court accused of making death threat's to Billie Piper. Peter's had made threatening telephone calls to the singer threatening to decapitate her and burn her body. The court listened to tapes of the 13 calls she has made to the singers record company.
2004 - Janet Jackson's right breast became the most searched-for image in net history, Jackson's breast was seen by millions on TV after Justin Timberlake pulled at her bodice during a duet. Search engines reported a big jump in searches for Janet Jackson and Super Bowl, as people turned to the web for images of the event.
2006 - The Rolling Stones played three songs during the half-time show of The Super Bowl in Detroit. After the event, the Stones expressed their displeasure over having Mick Jagger's microphone turned down during the song "Start Me Up". The line "you make a dead man come" was cut short and a barnyard reference to "cocks" in the new song "Rough Justice" also disappeared.
2008 - Amy Winehouse was questioned by police in connection with a video apparently showing her smoking a crack-cocaine pipe. The singer, who was not arrested, was interviewed under caution after the video was posted online by the Sun newspaper.